Suspension system for vehicles



June 24, 1952 M, NAVARRO ETAL 2,601,551

.y SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed NOV. 21, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l June 24, 1952 M, NAVARRO ETAL 2,601,551

SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed NOV. 2l, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 45 E l i INVENTOR.

Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Miguel Navarro, Enrique Joaquin Llovet, and

Aurelio Eduardo Llovet, Montevideo, Uruguay Application November 21, 1947, Serial No. 787,300 In Argentina October 16, 1947 6 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with an oscillating suspension system for vehicles, i. e. a system adapted for mountingY the vehicle frame upon the wheels which form the rolling support, the freely'oscillating suspension between both portions of the vehicle being achieved by the mechanical combination of the elements forming a system which serves to solve the many problemsv created in the arrangement of an oscillating-coupling-device sensitive to the uneven parts of roads-and highways, and which is capable of yielding to ythe least differences in level, comlpensating theeffects of same and causing a normal runningcondition, without the troubles inherent to violent jolts of the vehicle body, of per- 'mitting the smooth running of the vehiclesdue to aztotal. neutralization of the differences in level which is brought abouti by said system, thus permitting of a balanced run of the vehicle. Another problem solved by the invention,` is the damping effect of the shocks caused by dilerences in level. This damping effect results from -the functional relationship between the members which form the system of the invention, i. e. the assembly of an apparatus the movable parts whereof'are suitably balanced so as to avoid the violent oscillating movements', while said parts are protected and the assembly kept in best running condition. Finally said system has in view an essentially novel factor, namely the storage within a container suitably located at an adequate place of the vehicle body, of compressed air capable of being automatically renewed a-s the air isv being spent` This arrangement brings about the important result that the driver of the vehicle is thus in a condition of supplying at will and without having to resort to 'service stations, the compressed air required for inflation of pneumatic tubes of the vehicle tires, andV thus provides for a very important advantage, particularly if the vehicles concerned are used to travel through long distances, as is the case, for instance, with cargo trucks traveling between-'distant places or vehicles for individual or collective transportation on touring trips.

For the 'reasons stated above it may be gathered 'that the system in question provides a technical solution` tending towards a maximum degree of simplification in the resilient mounting of the 'vehicle frame to the rolling supports, inasmuch `as said system forms an eiiicient substitution for the' usual semi-elliptic suspension'springs as well as'the hydraulic shock absorbing devices used to protect the usual springs against the violent'jolts 'anzdprevent damageto said vsprings dueto the cured to a supporting member secured in turn to the vehicle frame. Both chambers constitute the `oscillating suspension means between the vehicle frame and the wheels and, at the saine time, due to the balanced relationship between both chambers, act-as a damping means for the'oscillating movement and thus keep the vehicle in regular and uniform running conditions. The other 'cylinders Yformed in the casting constitute eachone a pumping chamber subdivided into sections or steps of downwardly increasingdiameter, the diameter of the lowermost step thus being the largest. The subdivision is determined by pistons provided in sliding arrangement in each vof said steps, .said pistons being engaged with one another in a mutually slidable manner. The pistons forming the means for supplying compressed air to a storage container mounted at a suitable place of the vehicle body, the connection between the steps being established by means of passages through the pistons controlled by check valves the opening motion whereof is subordinated to the sucking stroke of thepistons.

The system is complemented by means for connecting the lowermost steps of the casting with the compressed air storage container,'further by means for connecting the uppermost step with the atmospheric air through the intervention of filtering members adapted to prevent the entrance of foreign matter into said cylinders, and further by connecting means between the co-'axial chambers formed in the central portion of the casting,

with the storage container, and by protecting,

means for the casting preventing the accumulation of foreign matter which might hamper the free actionof the apparatus of the system which forms the subject-matter of the present invention.

In order that the present invention may be fully understood and easily carried into practice, the same has been disclosed in the appended drawings'showing a practical embodiment of the apparatus forming part of the system considered, and wherein: l

Ato the cover I2 and. provided Awith strainingY members 25 to prevent the Fig. l is a vertical sectional View of a suspension, shock absorbing and air compressing assembly for motor vehicles and the like which embodies the presentY invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a suitable compressed air storage system for use in association with the assembly of Fig. 1.

As disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the apparatus comprises the following arrangements of parts: a casting I in block shape, having a central recess 2 and two lateral recesses, each of the latter being subdivided each into three sections, one upper intake section 3, one intermediate section 4, and one lowermost section 5 of a larger diameter than the intermediate section which is, as shown, of a largerdiameter than the upper section. V

Within the central recess 2 two resilient casings of bellows-shape G and 1 are housed, forming a pair of co-axial chambers, namely, an upper one 8 and a lower one 9. Between both casings 6 and 1, a piston I0 is provided which is secured to a rod II extending outwardly of the block I through a cover I2, and guided in a stuifing-box I3. Said rod is secured at its upper end to a supporting member I4, by means of a lock nut I5, and an expanding washer I6 is interposed vbetween the nut I5 and the member I4 to prevent inadvertent loosening of the assembly.

Both chambers 8 and 9 are connected with a compressed air storage tank, 52 (Fig. 2), installed at a suitable location in the vehicle body, by means of pipe conduits I1 and I8. Said pipe conduits are provided with branches I1 and I8', respectively, leading to lthe drivers station and connected to suitable pressure indicating devices, for example, the manometers 53 and 54 located on the dash-board. In order to control the degree of resistance to circulation of air towards the cambers 8 and 9, and for regulating said resistance by suitably increasing or diminishing the restriction to such circulation of the air, metering valve devices 55 and 56 are interposed in said pipe conduits I1 and I8 and have suitable controls 51 and 58 extending therefrom to the drivers station for hand manipulation by the driver so that the latter may regulate the resistance to circulation of the compressed air in accordance with the load being carried.

Within the lateral intake recesses 3 are housed the pistons I9 secured to `ton rods 20. Said rods project outwardly of said their corresponding pischambers through the cover I2 being guided in stuffing-boxes 2| secured to said cover, and at their upper ends. Said rods 4are secured to the supporting membery I4 by means of lock nuts 22 with the interposition of expanding washers 23 for keeping said rods and lock nuts in mutual vscrew adjustment. fThe supporting member I4 constitutes the means for attaching the apparatus to the vehicle frame, a lateral portion thereof being fragmentarily shown at a, whereas the casting block I is seated with its base against the axle portion b located between the sides of the frame and the wheel rims having secured thereto C ythe tires, both of them not shown. The coupling means connecting the block and the axle portion b are not illustrated in the drawing but may be of any conventional form.

The intake chambers atmosphere by means of intake pipes 24 secured at their upper ends entrance of foreign matter into th chambers 3. In the lower opening of said pipe members 24 3 are connected with the- 4 are pivotally secured check valves preferably of the flap type 25.

The pistons I9 are provided with axial passages 21 providing communication between the upper zone of the chambers 3 and the lower zone 3a thereof, comprised between the base of said pistons I9 and the piston heads or upper faces of the pistons 28 contained within the intermediate chambers 4. These pistons 28 are in turn provided with axial passages 28 communicating between the zone 3a and the lower zone 4a of the intermediate chambers 4. These lower zones 4a are connected with the lowermost zone 5a of the chambers 5, by means of passages 30 through the pistons 3|. The passages 21, 29 and 3l) are provided at their lower openings with check valves 32, 33 and 34, directed in the same sense said valves being similar to the valves 26 of the pipe members 24 and said valves being apt to be included in both openings of the passages 21, 29

and 30.l v

As shown in the appended drawing, the pistons I9, 28 and 3l are spaced apart from one another at suitable distances, in order to permit intermediate zones 3a and 4a to be charged with the necessary air for the purpose of supplying the storage tank with air during the compression strokes.

Since the diameters of the chambers 3, 4 and 5 are different and increase starting from chamber 3, mutual coupling means are provided between the pistons I9, 28 and 3| for preventing the pistons I9 and 28 from lateral oscillation when they pass into the chambers 4 and 5. The coupling means comprise a stem 35 which extends from the base of each of the pistons I9 and is shaped so as to enter into a recess 36 formed in the head of each of'the pistons 28. From the base of` each of the pistons 28 a stem 31 projects and is. extended so as to seat within recesses 38 formed in the upper faces of pistons 3I. These recesses carry helical expansion springs 39 tensioning during the suction or return strokes the pistons 28 towards and into the position shown in the drawing. In the zones 5a, of the chambers 5 are housed helical expansion springs 4U within circumferential recesses 40a and 4I formed in the lower faces of the pistons 3I and in the bottoms of the lowermost Zone 5a of said chambers 5.

This arrangement permits of a greater marginof downward displacement of the pistons 3|.

In the bottom of the lowermost zone of the chambers `5 are secured bushings 42 having check valves 43 similar to those already described. Said valvescontrol the circulation of air to the pipe conduits 44 connecting the chambers 5 with the storagetank, by mutual connection between said pipe conduits and a further pipe conduit 45 extending towards the storage tank and forming 1a cllosed circuit between said chambers and said The apparatus is completed by the inclusion of a cover or cap 4B formed by a double-Walled casing containing lubricant capable of seeping through holes 41 formed in the inner wall of the casing and opening against the walls of the casting I. Said cap is provided with a cover 48 having guiding holes for the rods Il and 20 and for the passage of the pipe conduit I1, as Well as openings 49 for the intake of atmospheric air through a straining member 5D preventing the passage of foreign matter into contact with the upper portion of the cover I2. Said cap is secured to the frame a by means of holding straps 55 "I f, lpermitting of i y-a -p rfectly"' balancedafdjust- 'me of the apparatusftothe frame;

*In foperatonL-l the' -above "describeddevice em- `thelinvention,` functions aslffollows :l The piston-'f rodsv 4 I I 'f' and i 2-9 =i being secured l at their upper ends-relative" tol the vehicle? frame! a Y'Lax-id-the housing or'casting I1 being supported-"on thefairle"b, the resilient casings -or bellows If and'f'I disposed ini the chambers 81 andl 9, respective1y, `andffabutting'againstthe 'top and'bottom' of fpiston Ill onrod-f' I Iwillvresiliently' resist movement of lthe frameirelative `Ito Ithe axle andthe'lower resilient casing" or bellows VI rwill serve to support the load ofithebvehicle distributed' toi-the attachment bracketl' III'. lWhenthe supporting `f wheels encounteran 'unevenportiony of "th'el road Asurface to cause movementl of-'theI-casting-r I1 relative to the piston rods.. I I f-arrdZ', suchV movement is yieldably re'si'stedrb'yth'e resilient. casingsrvorbellows 6 and 'Iv and by the resistance in conduits I'I and I8 to the ilow of compressed airtherethrough to and limitsand scope: of fthe invention "as dennen-l ii'by thefappende'diclaims;

' Having Snow particularly ascertained Ian'dl del'andiinventionlofthe applicants, is:

lf-romthe chambers!! and 9. Thus," thek displacement of the piston rod I I relative to theA casting I is dampediout-to protect the. resilient casings E and 'I againstthe impositionthereon of excessivestrains. Further, by varying the resistance toi the "flow of compressed air through 'the 'conduits I'I and I8 in either direction, the damping action of the compressed air may be adjusted in accordance with the load carried by the vehicle.

Simultaneously with the oscillating motions of the rod II oscillating motions are incurred, too, by the rods 20, and the pistons I9 thereof, in their upward stroke relative to the casting I, will compress the air within the chambers 3, which will pass to the zones 3a thereof, and in their downward stroke relative to the casting, will cornpress the air within the Zones 3a, impelling it through the passages 29 of the pistons 23 towards the lower zone 4a of the chambers 4, and thence, impelled by the pistons 28 in their downward stroke, the fiuid is impelled through the passages 30 of the pistons 3| towards the lowermost zones 5a, ofthe chambers 5. From these chambers 5 the air compressed, at the downward stroke of pistons 3| against the tension of springs IIB, is dischargedtowards the storage tank for storage therein under pressure, the check valves 2B, 32, 33, 34 and 43 preventing the return of fluid to the above mentioned chambers.

It is thus shown that aside from the double function of a suspending and damping action exerted on the supporting wheels, the system under consideration will accomplish the purpose of storing compressed air within a suitable tank in such vmanner that the air may be used for recharging the pneumatic tubes of the vehicle tires, without the helpof Service stations, a factor of undeniable advantage for the driver of the vehicle since it enables him to start his journey safely certain that in the case of possible leakages of air from the tires, he will be able to recharge them at once without the complication and loss of time resulting from the use of mechanical inflators requiring excessive physical strain and considerable loss of time for the recharge of the tires.

It is evident that the matter described and disclosed is only an embodiment and one of the many possible ways to carry the present invention into practice, it being hereby clearly established that modications as to detail are feasible in the assembly constituting the apparatus appliable to the system forming the basical principle of this invention, without departing vfrom the -Y l; An :oscillation ,cushioningl device for vehicles 'of` the` type inf which 1 an air 'cushion connected toastorage tank for lcompressedfair isdisposed betweenvehicle frameand wheel, and-1a pump 'adapted .to be operated f by f the "movement `ibetween frame and wheel is connectedtofsaidtank;

' said device-` comprising' aicasting'v block' supported :by the axle of. said-wheel, said casting block-A having acentral borefandtwo lateral Ybores."forning a central cylinderl and `two lateral cylinders,^fre spectively, each ofvsaid lateral fcylindersc'om- 'prising-'a;l plurality of step cylinders, fone above the other and lof increasing diameters, -a piston 'associatedwithieacli o'f'said steps,*a supporting member mounted` at said frame, a central "and two lateral piston rods secured at their respective 'top:headsat-said'supporting member, the centrial piston rod havingY mounted thereonav piston Yassociated with the central cylinder and the lateral piston rods being connected to the pistons associated with said top steps of said lateral cylinders and adapted for reciprocation relative to the respective cylinders on movement between said wheel and said frame; said central cylinder further having two resilient casings therein one on each Side of the piston in said central cylinder, and each secured at one end to the latter and at the other end to an end of said central cylinder, said resilient casings being operative to support the frame relative to the associated Wheel and forming pneumatic chambers, means for connecting said pneumatic chambers to said storage tank; the top heads of said lateral cylinders having air intakes connecting the space of said top step with the atmosphere, and check valves for controlling said air intakes, the bottom heads of said lateral cylinders each having a check valve connecting the space of the related bottom step to a pipe line leading to said storage tank, said pistons associated with the steps of said lateral cylinders having passages therethrough, connecting both sides of the respective pistons, check valves associated with said passages and adapted and disposed so as to be opened atthe upstroke of said pistons associated with the steps of said lateral cylinders when the pressure above the respective valve associated with said passages exceeds that below the same, said check valves at the lateral cylinder heads being adapted and disposed so as to be opened at the downstrokes of said pistons associated with the steps of said lateral cylinders; thereby,

to build up the pressure in said lateral cylindersstepwise between intake of atmospheric air and delivery to said storage tank to generate storable compressed air in said lateral cylinders, while maintaining the pressure in said pneumatic chambers within said central cylinder at a certain pressure level.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air intakes are of tubular form and provided with straining means for preventing the entrance of foreign matter into said lateral cylinders.

3. A device as set forth in claim l wherein a cap is provided, rigidly mounted at said supporting member, and adapted to enclose the top head and sides of said casting block so that the latter may reciprocate therein at movement between frame and wheel, said cap comprising double-walled sides, and a cover thereon; the space within said double-walled sides being adapted to contain a lubricating fluid. the inner wall defining said space being perforate so as to allow said lubricating fluid toiseep throughthe 'perforations thereof and to lubricate the walls of said casting block; said cover having guiding holes for said piston rods and openings for the entrance of atmospheric air, filtering members being provided within said cover for preventing foreign matter mixed with said air from passing throughI said cover.

bottom end of the related one of said lateral cylinders.

l5. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the confronting faces of said pistons associated with the steps of said lateral cylinders areprovided with -projections and correspondingly shaped recesses adapted to engage one another when on movement of said pistons in the lateral cylinders, said confronting piston faces approach one another, thereby to avoid lateral displacement of said pistons in the lateral cylinders.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein confronting faces ofV said pistons associated with the steps of said lateral cylinders are provided with mutually engaging projections and correspondingly shaped recesses, said projections extending from the underside of the upper of said confronting facesand said recesses being formed within the upper side of the lower of said confronting faces; thereby to avoidlateral displacement of said pistons in the lateral cylinders.

MIGUEL NAVARRO.-

ENRIQUE JOAQUIN ILOVE'I. AURELIO EDUARDO LLOVET.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the I iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date A 

